Celebrities Who Came Out as Queer but Stayed in Straight Marriages

Hollywood is witnessing a change in how celebrities talk about their identities and who they’re attracted to. Increasingly, well-known figures are openly identifying as queer, bisexual, or pansexual even while staying married to people of the opposite sex. They often explain that their identity isn’t defined by their marriage, and that attraction can be complex and change over time. By sharing their experiences, these celebrities are redefining what it means to live a queer life and challenging old-fashioned ideas about relationships. Here’s a list of celebrities who have publicly discussed their queer identities while remaining married to opposite-sex partners.

Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong, the singer of Green Day, first discussed his bisexuality in 1995, and has been open about it ever since. He’s been married to Adrienne Nesser since 1994, and they have two children together. Armstrong has explained that his sexuality is a fundamental aspect of who he is, even within a long-term, traditional marriage. They are often praised as one of the most solid couples in the rock world, and his openness continues to be important for LGBTQ+ people who are also in long-term relationships and have families.

Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin, known for her role in ‘True Blood,’ publicly shared she was bisexual in 2010 as part of a campaign to raise awareness. She was engaged to her co-star, Stephen Moyer, at the time and they married later that year. Paquin has consistently spoken out about bisexual representation, often clarifying that being married to a man doesn’t invalidate her identity as a queer person. She and Moyer are still married and have two children. Her continued presence in the public eye helps break down traditional ideas about sexuality in Hollywood.

Brendon Urie

Brendon Urie, the singer from Panic! At The Disco, publicly shared he is pansexual in a 2018 interview with ‘Paper Magazine’. He explained that he’s attracted to people of all genders, even though he’s been happily married to Sarah Orzechowski since 2013. He clarified that he acknowledges past attractions to men while remaining deeply in love with his wife. The couple had their first child in 2023, after Urie ended his work with Panic! At The Disco. He continues to use his voice to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health awareness.

Aubrey Plaza

Aubrey Plaza, famous for her role in ‘Parks and Recreation’, publicly came out as bisexual in a 2016 interview with ‘The Advocate’. She shared that she’s attracted to both men and women, and that her family has always accepted her. After dating for ten years, she married filmmaker Jeff Baena in 2021. Plaza continues to be open about her sexuality while maintaining a relationship with Baena, and has been applauded for speaking about her attraction in a straightforward manner.

David Bowie

David Bowie publicly came out as gay in 1972, later specifying he was bisexual in an interview with ‘Playboy’. Though he had several well-known relationships, he married model Iman in 1992 and they remained together until his death in 2016. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie often spoke about the contrast between his public image and his personal life. His marriage to Iman was known as a particularly strong and private relationship within the entertainment world. He continues to be an important icon for LGBTQ+ representation in the arts.

Pink

Alecia Moore, known as Pink, has openly talked about her attraction to people of all genders and avoids defining her sexuality with labels. Though she’s been married to Carey Hart since 2006 and they share two children, she’s also discussed past relationships with women. Pink has repeatedly said she doesn’t feel the need to fit into a single category. Despite facing challenges publicly, she and Hart have remained a strong couple. For over twenty years, fans have connected with Pink as a symbol of fluidity and self-expression.

Cardi B

Cardi B has openly discussed being attracted to both men and women since becoming famous. She confirmed her bisexuality on social media in 2018 after people began speculating about the meaning behind her song lyrics. Although she married rapper Offset in 2017 and they have faced some public relationship challenges, they remain married. Cardi B often responds to those who question her sexuality because she is married to a man, and she continues to embrace her identity while balancing her public life and relationship.

Tish Cyrus

Miley Cyrus’s mother and manager publicly shared that she identifies as pansexual in a 2024 interview on the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast. This came after she married actor Dominic Purcell in 2023. She explained that she’s attracted to a person’s personality and inner self, regardless of their gender. Before this, she was married to country star Billy Ray Cyrus for almost 30 years, and they finalized their divorce recently. Her openness about her identity later in life has been well-received by both her family and her fans.

Vanessa Carlton

In 2010, singer Ingrid Michaelson publicly came out as bisexual while performing at Nashville Pride. Three years later, she married John McCauley, a member of the band Deer Tick, with Stevie Nicks officiating the wedding. Since then, Ingrid has successfully navigated her career and identity as a queer woman while raising a daughter with her husband. She’s often spoken about how coming out at the Nashville event was a key moment in her life. The couple generally prefers to keep their lives private and out of the public eye.

Jason Mraz

Singer Jason Mraz discussed his experiences with men and his sexuality in a 2018 interview with ‘Billboard’. He was married to Christina Carano at the time, having wed in 2015. Mraz identified as “two-spirit” and shared that his wife supported him as he explored his identity. They remained married for several years after he publicly came out before ultimately divorcing. Since then, Mraz has continued to support LGBTQ+ rights through his music and charitable work.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox first publicly shared she was bisexual in a 2008 interview with ‘GQ’, confidently stating her attraction to women. She then married Brian Austin Green in 2010, and they shared over a decade together with three children. Throughout their marriage, Fox continued to openly discuss her bisexuality. Even after their divorce and her relationship with Machine Gun Kelly, she has maintained her identity as queer, celebrating Pride Month in 2021 and acknowledging her long history as part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Margaret Cho

Throughout her career, the comedian and actress has been a vocal advocate for bisexual and queer rights. She was married to Al Ridenour from 2003 to 2014, and often talked about their relationship in her stand-up comedy. Cho has shared how her marriage wasn’t conventional and actually helped her embrace her queer identity. She uses her platform to teach people about the complexities of bisexuality and to challenge the idea that bisexual people need to ‘appear’ straight. Her work continues to be important for queer representation in comedy.

Alice Walker

Alice Walker, the celebrated author of ‘The Color Purple,’ has openly identified as bisexual for many years. From 1967 to 1976, she was married to civil rights lawyer Melvyn Leventhal, in what was a landmark legal interracial marriage for Mississippi. Since then, Walker has had significant relationships with people of all genders, including a public romance with singer Tracy Chapman. Throughout her writing, she frequently explores the connections between race, gender, and sexuality, and her marriage to Leventhal is often seen as an important part of her personal growth.

Elton John

The celebrated singer first publicly discussed being bisexual in a 1976 interview with ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine. He then married sound engineer Renate Blauel in a traditional Australian ceremony in 1984, but they divorced after four years. While he later confirmed he is gay, his time identifying as bisexual during his marriage to Blauel remains an important part of his story. He’s since become a leading figure for the LGBTQ+ community, eventually marrying David Furnish. His journey with self-discovery and his brief marriage to a woman were portrayed in the 2019 film ‘Rocketman’.

Sia

Sia, known for her hit song “Chandelier,” has openly discussed her identities as queer and pansexual throughout her career. She married filmmaker Erik Anders Lang in 2014, shortly after her music gained widespread recognition. They divorced in 2016, and throughout their marriage, Sia continued to share her attraction to people of all genders. She’s often talked about how the challenges of fame affected her relationships and her ability to be herself. Sia continues to create music and work in film, proudly representing the LGBTQ+ community through her art.

Amber Heard

Amber Heard publicly shared she is bisexual in 2010 while speaking at a GLAAD event. She later married actor Johnny Depp in 2015, after a very public romance. Heard has said she was encouraged by people in Hollywood to hide her past relationships with women, but she refused. Her marriage to Depp ended in a difficult divorce in 2017, but she has remained open about her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She’s since had a child and continues to be a strong advocate for the community.

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood publicly came out as bisexual on Twitter in 2011, sharing that she’s been attracted to people of all genders. She married actor Jamie Bell in 2012, and they had a son together before separating in 2014. Wood often speaks about how bisexual identities can be overlooked, especially when someone is in a heterosexual relationship. She continues to be a strong voice for both LGBTQ+ rights and survivors of domestic violence, and often chooses roles that allow her to portray complex, and frequently queer, characters.

Drew Barrymore

Drew Barrymore revealed in a 2003 interview that she’s always been attracted to both men and women. She later married Will Kopelman in 2012, and they had two daughters together before divorcing in 2016. Barrymore has said her attraction to women felt natural growing up and continues to be a part of who she is. Since her divorce, she’s focused on her talk show and raising her children, all while continuing to support the LGBTQ+ community. Her long career has made her a well-known and visible queer woman in the entertainment industry.

Fergie

Fergie, formerly of the Black Eyed Peas, publicly discussed her attraction to both men and women in a 2009 interview, sharing that she had previously been with women. She was married to actor Josh Duhamel for eight years, from 2009 to 2017, and openly acknowledged her past relationships while emphasizing her commitment to him during their marriage. They have a son together and continue to co-parent him positively after their divorce. Fergie remains a well-known celebrity, recognized for her unique fashion sense and singing ability.

Nico Tortorella

Sara Ramirez, known for their role in ‘Younger,’ publicly came out as queer and gender-fluid in 2016, and later identified as pansexual and polyamorous. They married their partner, Bethany C. Meyers, in 2018 in a wedding they called “gender-bending.” Although their marriage might seem conventional, the couple openly discusses their queer relationship and doesn’t follow traditional expectations. They share their experiences online and through a podcast to help others understand relationships outside of traditional gender roles. In 2023, they welcomed their first child.

Share your thoughts on these public figures and their journeys in the comments.

2026-03-25 08:17